Rifle trigger and safety mechanism



Oct. 21, 1958 w. RQPARKE' I RIFLE TRIGGER AND SAFETY MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllll Fig /v j? c 'f r7 -;1;; f j /4 1 r 22 t 42 40 [/6 if 54 ig, I I //0 me i r 2 I 90 m r 3 v F1 6 7a 92 8% Z: 6 3 50 80 7? 74 70 48 Fig. 2 v i William R. Parke INVENTOR.

Oct. 21, 1958 w. R. PARKE RIFLE TRIGGER AND SAFETY MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1957 United States Patent RIFLE TRIGGER AND'SAFETY MECHANISM. William R. Parke, Union Gap, Wash. Application April 1, 1957 Serial No. 650,010 Claims. or. 42-69) This invention relates in general to firearm firing and safety mechanisms and more particularly to an improved automatic cocking set trigger and a; safety therefor.

The primary object of this invention isto provide a set trigger for firearms which may be easily released to fire the firearm to which it is attached and which will be reset by the rearward movement of the boltof the firearm.

A further object of this arm with a set triggerwhich may be set Without any movement on the part of the shooter other than the movements normally employed in recocking a rifle after the'firing thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a invention is to provide a fireset trigger for a firearm which may be, by the adjustment of the tension of a trigger spring adjusted to the weight of trigger pull desired by any particular shooter.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a safety device for the set trigger mechanism which positively locks the firing pin against firing movement and disconnects the trigger from engagement? with its associated mechanisms whereby the trigger may be squeezed and the rifle will not fire.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a trigger mechanism of the character mentioned which may be economically manufactured from low cost materials ofnon-precision parts which may then be assembled into a smoothly operating and simple mechanism.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparentreside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a rifle firing mechanism, and showing the mechanism in the cocked position, ready for firing, with portions of such mechanism sectioned for clarity, and all features ofthe invention clearly illustrated;

Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the mechanism in a fired position; i

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the manner in which the trigger is set by the automatic set mechanism; i

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the safety lever and operating thumb piece shown attached to the trigger mechanism housing, with portions of the housing being broken away;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along section line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken section line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail it will be noted, that the trigger mechanism, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10, is centrally disposed below a rifle bolt 12 and is attached to a semi-cylindrical receiver 14 in which-the bo1t 12 is slidable. The stock substantially along of the firearm surrounds the trigger mechanism 10. The bolt 12 is cylindrical: in configuration and has therein, at the rear end thereof an enlarged cylindrical bore 16 which extends approximately half-way of 1 the length of the bolt and terminates in a reduced bore 18. The bore 18 terminates in a front wall 20 which has therethrough a still further reduced circular aperture 22. The bore 16 has :on the lower. side thereof an elongated slot 24, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The bore 18 receives therein a firing pin 26, the forward end of which is reduced into a cylindrical percussion nose 28. The nose 28 is slidable in the aperture 22. The rearward extremity of the firing pin is provided with a depending ramp, which is, referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 having a rearwardly opening elongated circular aperture 32 therein. The aperture 32 receives a firing pin spring 34,, the other end of which is engageable on a rear wall 36 of the bolt 12. Ramp 30 extends downward into the slot 24, slidable therein and guided thereby. The ramp 30 consists of a downwardly and rearwardly extending front ramp 38 which terminates in a horizontal surface 40 which in turn terminates in upwardly and backwardly extending rear ramp -42. It should be noted that the nose 28 of the firing pin is provided with an encircling spring 44 which, after the rifle'is fired, exerts pressure against the wall 20 of the bolt and a shoulder 46 of the firing pin to retract the nose of the firing pin into the bolt.

The trigger mechanism 10 is confined in a housing having a stepped, vertical front wall 48, a vertical rear wall 50, a left side wall52 and a right side wall 54. The housing is also provided with a bottom wall 56 hav-- ing an aperture 58 therethrough. The aperture 58 provides an access opening for a trigger 60 which is pivotally retained in the housing by means of a transverse trigger pin 62. The lower wall 56 has also attached thereto and depending therefrom a trigger guard 64. It should be understood that the portion of the trigger extending into the trigger guard is suitably curved to fit the index finger of the shooter. The opposite end of the trigger extends upward into the trigger housing and is somewhat rectangular in configuration with the rear corner having a notch 66 therein. The upper portion of the trigger is normally urged to the rear by a trigger spring 68. The notch 66 is engageable by a nose 70 of a lever 72 which is pivotally retained in the housing by means of a lever pivot pin 74. The lever 72 extends rearward in a generally horizontal plane and terminates in a vertically upstanding cam lobe 76. The cam lobe 76 has an upper curved cam surface 78, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. Intermediate the lever pivot pin '74 and the cam lobe 76 there is provided a laterally extending pin 80 which extends through an elongated aperture 82 in the right wall 54. The purpose of this pin 80 will also be described hereinafter. The lever 72, at the i rear extremity thereof is normally forced upward by I below the extension.

means of a lever spring 84.

There is provided above the lever 72 a disconnector which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 86 and which is pivotally retained within the housing by means of a pivot pin 88. The pivot pin 88 is located closely adjacent to the front wall 48 and the disconnector extends backward therefrom in a generally horizontal with a disconnector spring 102 which is engageable with the front wall 48 and vertical arm 86 thus normally urging the vertical arm 86 rearward and the horizontal arm 90 downward.

The lip 100 of the disconnector is ,engageable by an upper surface lflfl .of a sear, ,which is referred to ,in general by the reference numeral 106. Thesear 106 is pivotally retained between the side walls of the housing by means of a searpivot pin 108. The scar consists of a generally horizontal arm which extends backward from the disconnector arm 110, whichextends backward in a generally horizontal position, the :pivot pin 108 being located intermediate theends thereof. The arm 110 terminates in an upstanding vertical :portion 112 which is of a substantial width and extends through an aperture 114 in the arcuate, receiver 1 4 and through the aperture 24 of the bolt. The vertical portion 112 terminates at the upper end thereof in a rearwardly and downwardly extending upper cam surface 116 and it should be noted that the upper extremity of the cam surface 116 is arcuately blended with a forward surface of the vertical portion 112 to form a nose 118. Immediately below the upper cam surface and at the juncture of the horizontal arm 110 and the vertical portion 112 is provided a curvate lower cam surface 120 which is engageable with the cam lobe 78 on the lever 72. It should be further noted that the sear 106 at the forward end thereof is normally urged downward by means of a sear spring 122 thus causing the upper cam surface 116 to be spring urged into engagement with the front ramp 38 of the firing pin.

Referring now to Figure 4 it will be noted that the trigger mechanism is provided with a safety lever 124 which is pivotally mounted outside of the right wall 54 on the trigger pivot pin 62. The safety lever 124 extends upward and backward from the pivot pin 62 and as will be noted in Figure is bent outward and upward in an angulated leg-126 in closeproximity to the receiver plate 14 and terminates in a pad 128. The pad 128 is somewhatrectangular in configuration and is suitably knurled or otherwise roughened as at 130. The safety lever 1-24 at the rear edge thereof and engageable with the pins 80 and 94 has a pair ofnotches 132 and 134. Intermediate the notch 132 and the notch 134 there is provided a round nosed guide 136 which is formed integral with the safety lever 124 and above the not-ch 134 there is provided a second round nosed guide 138. It will-be noted that the pins 80 and 94 are engageable with the notches 132 and 134 respectively.

While the operation and function of the mechanism should be clear a brief description follows: Assuming that the rifle is ready to fire with a round in the chamber, the

firing pin to the rear and engaged by the sear and the trigger set, the triggeris squeezed against the pressure of the trigger spring thereby releasing the nose 70 of the lever 72. The lever 72 moves upward under pressure of the lever spring 84 thus engaging the lobe 92 of the disconnector forcing the arm 90 upward and the arm 98 forward against the pressure of the disconnector spring 102 thereby disengaging the lip 100 from the surface 104 of the sear. The strength of the firing pin spring 34 being somewhat greater than the strength of the sear spring 122, the firing pin thenrnoves forward, camming the sear downward against the pressure of the sear spring 122 and when the nose 23 of the firing pin strikes the primer of the cartridge the cartridge is detonated. Upon rearward movement of the bolt 12, whether performed manually or automatically through recoil or gas operation, the firing pin is also carried rearwardly. The rear ramp 42 engages the nose 18 of the sear thus forcing the sear downward and engaging the lower cam surface 120 of the sear with the cam lobe 78 of the lever 72. Upon continued rearward movement of the bolt and when the horizontal portion 40 of the ramp is in engagement with the nose 1 18 the lever 72 will have been forced downward against the pressure of the lever spring 84,;a sufficient distanc o t e .-t n a th t tgger tcn 66 and thusreset the trigger. The bolt may then be moved forward, the lip 10'0 'having a re-en g aged surface 104, and the front ramp 38 will engage the upper cam surface 116 of the sear thus stopping the firing pin and as the bolt is continued to be moved forward the firing pin spring will be compressed and the firearm, after the bolt is fully closed, is ready to fire anether round.

It will be noted that when the safety lever is actuated the pins 80and 94 will beengaged.inthe notches 1-32 and 134 respectively thusretaining the lever 72 and the disconnector 816 in anzimmovable-position. The trigger may then be squeezed andthe firearmwill not fire.

While this invention has been described as attached to a rifle it shouldbe-clearly,understood that the mechanism may be utilized for firearms of any type.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it isnot desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed asnew'is as follows:

1. In combination with a'firearm having a trigger and bolt and a firing pin slidably carried by the bolt and including a cam and a spring for urging the firing pin to firing position, spring urged means intermediate the trigger and the-bolt,

and a ramp on said firing pin cam, said ramp cooperating with said spring urged means to fire and reset the firearm when' the trigger .is actuated and released, means associated with said spring urged means to prevent accidental firing of the firearm, said spring urged means including a lever engageable with the trigger, a disconnector operable by said lever, and asear, said disconnector having a scar notch enga'gea'ble by one end of said sear, said disconnector-being normally spring urged into engagement with said sear, saidsear on the opposite end thereof having an upper cam surface, said cam surface being;

normally spring urged into engagement with said firing pin cam, said lever having a cam lobe thereon,sa1d sear having a lower cam surfacei-engageable bysald cam lobe,

said lever-upon releaseby the trigger being urged upward to actuate the disconnector and release the sear notch from the sear, thusallowing ,the firing pinspring to overcome the spring pressure on arm and upon rearward movement of the bolt said ramp riding on said upper cam surface thereby forcing the sear 7 down, said lower earn surface being in engagement with said cam lobe also forcing the lever down and re-engaging said lever with the trigger.

2. In a firearm of the sliding bolt type, a receiver having anopening therein and abolt longitudinally slidable with respect to said receiver and having an opening therein registered with the receiver opening in any position of the bolt, a trigger pivoted intermediate its ends in said receiver and having a finger portion depending therefrom, a generally longitudinally disposed elongate lever pivoted intermediate its ends within said receiver and having a forwardend portion overlying and resting; said trigger, a spring engaging said upon the upper end of lever and urging the same to contact the forward end thereof against said upper end of the trigger, a spring engaging saidtrigger and urging the same such that its upper end underlies the forward end of said lever, a

spring loaded firing pin in said bolt andhaving a cam thereon movable past said opening in the receiver as the firing pinmoves from a cooked to;a firing position, an elongate sear pivoted intermediate its ends in said receiver and including a rear portion projecting through the openings in said receiver and-said bolt and engagedwith said cam on the firing pin to'hold the same in cocked position, a spring engaging said sear urging said ea rettio thstegf towa dtthe iti inatp t am, .2 d sthe scar and firing the fire-.

connector lever pivoted'intermediate its ends within said receiver and having its forward end engaged with the forward end of said sear to normally hold said sear to maintain the firing pin in cocked position, said disconnector lever having its rear end positioned for engage ment by said lever when the same is released by said trigger to pivot said disconnector lever and releasesaid sear, the rear end portion of said lever underlying the rear portion of said sear and being depressed thereby when the firing pin is moved from its firing to its cocked position to raise the forward end portion of the lever to clear the upper end of the trigger and reset the mechanism, and a spring engaging said disconnector lever urging said one end thereof into engagement with said sear.

3. In a firearm, a receiver having an opening in the upper side thereof, a bolt longitudinally slidable with respect to said receiver and disposed on the upper side thereof and having an opening therein registered with the receiver opening in any position of the bolt, said bolt including a firing pin having a cam thereon movable in one direction past the receiver opening when the firing pin moves between its cocked and firing positions and in the opposite direction when the bolt is moved between its closed and open positions, a generally L-shaped sear disposed within said receiver including an elongate arm disposed generally parallel to said firing pin pivotally mounted in the receiver intermediate its ends and an upstanding portion at the rear of said arm projecting upwardly therefrom through the receiver opening and into the bolt for engagement with said cam, a spring in said receiver engaging said arm to urge said upstanding portion toward said firing pin, a generally L-shaped disconnector lever having a horizontal arm portion disposed generally parallel to and spaced below the arm of said sear and having a vertical arm portion at the forward end thereof extending upwardly past the forward end of sald sear arm and having a shoulder thereon engaged over and holding the sear in engagement with said firing pin cam to hold the firing pin in cocked position, a spring engaging said disconnector and normally urging the same into interlocked relation to said sear, said disconnector being pivotally mounted within said receiver at a point adjacent the juncture of the horizontal and vertical arms thereof, a generally vertical trigger pivotally mounted intermediate its ends within the receiver and having a finger portion depending through an opening in the receiver and an upper portion extending toward said horizontal arm portion of the disconnector, a generally L-shaped lever including a generally horizontal portion having the forward end thereof underlying the rearward portion of said horizontal arm of the disconnector and engaged over the upper portion of said trigger, said lever being pivotally mounted within the receiver at a point adjacent the forward end thereof, a spring urging the rearward portion of said lever upwardly to engage said disconnector for pivoting the same to release said sear.

4. The assembly as defined in and by claim 3 including an upstanding portion at the rear of said lever underlying the rearward portion of said sear and engageable therewith when the high point of the firing pin cam engages the upstanding portion of the sear to position the forward end of said lever over the upper end of said trigger.

5. The assembly as defined in and by claim 3 including a laterally projecting pin on the rear end of said disconnector and a similar pin on an intermediate portion of said lever, said pin being disposed in vertically spaced relation, and a safety lever pivotally mounted on said receiver for rocking movement in a vertical plane and including portions engageable over said pins to prevent movement of said lever and disconnector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,156,191 Pike Apr. 25, 1939 2,191,521 Crocket Feb. 27, 1940 2,584,299 Sefried Feb. 5, 1952 2,775,837 Perry et al. Jan. 1, 1957 

